Poll: Were you / are you planning to buy a plasma?
by Darren Murph Feb 28th 2009 @ 12:00PM
As the
plasma world continues to
crumble, we're stopping to ponder how this is affecting current, prospective and future customers. For any of you that were this close to pulling the trigger on a new plasma, has this week's news shaken your confidence in the technology? Are you still planning to buy one? Might you buy an LCD or projector now? Feel free to elaborate on how the mass exodus from PDP has changed (or not) your perceptions.
Filed under: Polls, Displays, LG, Others, Philips, Plasma
Tags: economy, lg, others, pdp, philips, plans, plasma, poll, polls, sales
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shadowguitar @ Feb 28th 2009 12:11PM
Well, I wasn't going to, but if there's a good price on a 42 inch 1080p after August 09, I'd be on that like white on rice. Need to get stuff for the apartment next year!
James T @ Feb 28th 2009 12:27PM
Yet another poorly worded survey. How about "Still planning to buy a Plasma"
Rick @ Feb 28th 2009 12:39PM
I'm with you - to my eyes, the picture quality in a quality plasma far exceeds the picture of LCDs
Myths about burn-in and "recharging" are complete crap
TheLightSide @ Feb 28th 2009 2:45PM
Absolutely boggles the mind doesn't it?
Mind you I prefer LCD over Plasma anyday of the week but to each his own. To not include that "still planning" option is just plain retarded.
And there are deals everywhere it seems.
darth cardo @ Feb 28th 2009 8:32PM
that's right!!!!
clara @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:24PM
Exactly. I've always favored plasma, and am waiting for Panny's 2009 lineup. Hopefully Pio's 2009 as well, but that's doubtful.
zephead @ Feb 28th 2009 12:34PM
I'd rather get an LCD since I've heard that Plasma gets burn-in from still images like the bottom line on ESPN and on the sides from unstretched 4:3 content.
Jim Mallory @ Feb 28th 2009 1:05PM
Depends on what Panasonic does. If they drop out I will probably upgrade my 4-year-old 50" 768p LG to a 58 or 65" 1080p Panasonic Plasma. I really like our 42PZ80 that is in the bedroom.
Tony @ Feb 28th 2009 1:22PM
The same knuckleheads who spread the myths about plasma for years ............. (see below)
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/3101/what-is-killing-the-plasma-tv.html
.................. will now declare that ALL manufacturer's will be leaving plasma (they're NOT) and the naive potential buyers will be scared off by this false info also. All of these "plasma is dead" articles won't help at all.
L3 @ Feb 28th 2009 1:45PM
Let me express my feelings with a little demonstration:
At the truck stop for breakfast yesterday, (true story) I asked the waitress for their wi-fi address. I had been prompted by my iPhone to enter it. I looked forward to checking my email and surfing the Internet while waiting for my food.
She said, "I don't even know how to 'switch on' a computer, I just learned how to use my VCR."
So, you ask about Plasma? I retort, respectfully, "SHE JUST LEARNED HOW TO USE HER VCR."
PuBeLeSs @ Feb 28th 2009 1:56PM
i bought one on black Friday or whatever it is. i love it 42 inch Panasonic for 999 i couldn't pass it up, and im not even a little sad its only 900 dollars now. i love my plasma forget lcd.
brian @ Feb 28th 2009 2:31PM
I'm with James T, I am still planning on buying a Panasonic plasma. Can't quite afford one at the moment. I hope to but one by the end of the year.
AndyS @ Feb 28th 2009 2:15PM
Just bought a Panasonic 46", plan to buy a 50" or 54" in the late summer/fall timeframe.
Totally satisfied.
Chad @ Feb 28th 2009 2:34PM
just bought a 50 plasma couple weeks ago. WAY better color than LCD. plus i have 480hz, not some cheesy 120 or 60hz
JermTool @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:01PM
You're an idiot, it's not even the same thing. 480hz is referring to the subfield drive while 120hz is referring to the refresh rate. It's completely different from 120hz, both in the end are completely irrelevant. I love how people get caught up into these number games, 1,000,000 contrast, 480hz processing, 600hz (new), 120hz, all of these are number games manufacturers play and use to get you to buy their products. Just another reason why Kuros were legit, they skipped the high numbers and let their TVs dominate showrooms on their own.
corey smith @ Mar 2nd 2009 12:43AM
Chad, been watching my pz80u for a month now, switching from a very good lcd (sony 40v3000). the color is unbelievable. now im patiently waiting for my new tc50ps1 to arrive any day. i'm giddy as hell!
BTW, @ jermtool below,
dont be such a clown. if your going to argue and get ur panties bunched, go post at Cnet. why couldnt you'd made a mature post regarding the tech? get off chad's nuts! besides, you dont know what youre talking about- 120hz and 480hz irrelevant, huh? 120hz helped catapult the last 2 generations of lcds very close to plasma- like video performance, and the 480hz on pannys virtually eliminates motion blur and false contouring. both different techs, but work towards the same thing- motion rez. chad was justifiably correct comparing the 2 techs. shite, im wasting my time commenting on you, jermtool. you are obviously a wiki- surfing noob...
Chad @ Feb 28th 2009 2:41PM
i got the panasonic as well.it does need a dvd that helps you tune the color and brightness and stuff to get it looking right, but once thats done its dead on for color and everything else.
TheLightSide @ Feb 28th 2009 2:44PM
Was never gonna buy a plasma.
The circuit shitty down the block here though has the Series 6 Plasmas from Samsung on sale for like $1609.99....52 Inches too...
Does anyone think that's a good deal.
Nick @ Feb 28th 2009 7:44PM
They don't make a 52 inch plasma. Nice try. They make a 52 inch LCD.
Jenny Moore @ Feb 28th 2009 3:14PM
Wanted a Kuro before, still want a Kuro. Just know that I've got a VERY limited time to actually get one!
h2obdawg @ Mar 1st 2009 9:41PM
Kuro's are widely in stock, even the 60" Elite one. Check around, and you may just get lucky.
Pingles @ Feb 28th 2009 3:14PM
Sorry, but after having trouble with a TV and the company not being able to "find parts" to fix it (to Philips credit they bought it back for my original price almost a year ago) I am afraid that I couldn't bring myself to buy a Plasma only to find out in six months nobody is making replacement parts when something goes wrong.
John @ Feb 28th 2009 4:01PM
You bought a Philips. That's YOUR problem.
When shopping for TVs, just look at manufacturer reviews from Consumer Reports. The best manufacturers are Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and Pioneer. Everything else is fubar, including Vizio.
Gallo @ Feb 28th 2009 4:03PM
I was never, ever planning to buy a plasma !!!!!!!!!
Chad @ Feb 28th 2009 5:30PM
neither was i until i did some research and found out it was better and all the myths are only myths now.
Charles @ Feb 28th 2009 5:38PM
Where's the option "I already own one?"
darth cardo @ Feb 28th 2009 8:33PM
you're right too!!
gmhnde3838 @ Feb 28th 2009 6:11PM
plasmas are great, so sad to see the tech is dying out. i think you need an option that you already have one or possibly say i will buy another when i need a new tv.
Deanerama @ Feb 28th 2009 7:30PM
Don't get me wrong I love my Panasonic, but I'm getting really tired of refilling the liquid plasma every 6 months. Sometimes it gets all over the floor and that stuff is very toxic.
Seriously I'm trying to think of a myth we can start spreading about LCD to turn things around. How about LCD crystals are made from Mongolian babies and emit ultra-violet rays that cause erectile disfunction?
Nick @ Feb 28th 2009 7:46PM
Well what I don't get is LCD obvious has the word "liquid" in its name, so why don't people think the liquid leaks out of it like they think plasma leaks out?
Deanerama @ Feb 28th 2009 9:59PM
The other one I don't get is why "burn-in" has become so viciously synonymous with plasma. It existed with tube TVs but tube's never got branded with this "common knowledge".
DVD4ME @ Feb 28th 2009 8:23PM
As long as Panasonic keeps making them, I'll keep buying them.
glennc @ Mar 2nd 2009 6:58AM
idiot biased survey. don't vote
DVD4ME @ Mar 2nd 2009 7:06AM
WTF U talking about??
HDpurist @ Feb 28th 2009 8:45PM
I own the Pioneer 5010FD and was planning to wait for their 10G sets to buy a 60" or larger size but now that is no longer possible. Hence, I am now looking to buy either the Elite 151FD or SS 141FD. I just have to...because I really don't want to wait another 10 years for OLED sets to become mainstream and affordable.
gt350 @ Feb 28th 2009 11:49PM
It is pretty unanimous in the industry that Plasma is better, even some Lcos ,LED rear projectors are better than LCD, Maybe this is the opening for SED. Which is better than Plamsa or LCD.
ED @ Mar 1st 2009 12:08AM
Well i guess i hit the nail on the head when i said almost 2 yeas ago that plasma is on the way of the DINOSAUR.The comments i got back were very bitter from pdp lovers.I guess plasma is a bitter pill to swallow?
PhilC @ Mar 1st 2009 12:46AM
I would be incredibly disappointed, but not too surprised at the demise of plasma. On the spec side it is obviously superior, but perception = reality with consumers. The only good thing to come from plasma being eliminated is that it would be one less thing to confuse the consumer. Still to this day I have to battle all of the stupid myths regarding plasma life, burn-in, recharging (yeah, people still ask about it), and just the general concern that "plasma isn't as good". I think that if plasma manufacturers would have marketed plasma as the reliable, better picture, it would be a much more prevalent and accepted technology. manufacturers allowed the rumors to escalate to a point that could not be overcome. As another poster mentioned, it is now the "cool" thing to have an LCD and not so much for a plasma.
Gary @ Mar 1st 2009 5:25AM
Once again these engadet morons do what do best and pile on. Another survey that is so piss poorly written and biased, it is no wonder plasma can't get a fair shake.
The fact is most consumers are vastly under educated and simply listening to friends of friends, who equally ignorant as well. The only legitmate reason not to buy a plasma is glare and relection issues and that is it. All the rest is BS, the electricity consumption is miniscule compared to other household appliances. I put on the the Superbowl in our showroom on the Direct tv hard drive and I ask people without telling them, which television has better reds on the Cardinal uniforms, which has better blacks on the Steeler uniforms and which one does better flesh tones on peoples skin and ultmately most people pick the plasma.
What is ironic is most of the high end LCD's have a ultra clear panel like Samsung, which enables the tv to put out better blacks and in so doing puts out as much glare as plasma
So every one's little darling Samsung ultimately has as much glare as most plasmas
If people would start training their eyes a look at the picture they would see the plasma picture is richer and more realistic. I love seeing everyone looking goth heroin addicts with kate moss looking skin, some how a lot of LCD's show less detail because the picture is overly bright and the reds especially on the Sonys always seem to be tomato instead of red.
Yes eventually the Plasma will probably go away because once again the public will pick a inferior format like it always does.
VCR over Beta. I POD over SACD and DVD audio. and yes trying to sell audio these days in any capacity is like pulling teeth. Alot of people are OK with hooking up a 2-3000 tv set to a POS HTIB that can find at COSTCO for $200-300.
Yes crap is king in this country, just ask all the people who can justify their POS Vizio tv they bought. If any of you have any doubts what garbage this company puts out. Just go to consumer affairs.org and type in Vizio and have a good time, the one I love the best is the guy who thought hisset was possessed because the volumewould go up and down on its own Engadet does not deserve to talk about Dynaudio if it was up to you cheapskate no one would put out high end home audio anymore, because it is too much money.
Another thing you people have in common with Consumer Reports, chiding great products because they are unattainable to you.
I can't afford a Lexus or a Porche or a Mercedes, but they better be good because they're so expensive.
Just like the Dynaudio speakers,which are incredible and no I can't afford them either.
I am saving my money for Pioneers last 60 inch model so I can get something I know that was the best overall picture and no some oversaturated LCD that does not look realistic.
By the way Pansonic still cranks out 7 million Plasma's last time I looked that is a impressive amount of televisions.
It is too bad people most people don't take the time to really educate themselves with better publication like home theater magazine who picked 2 plasmas in the top 4 choices.
Instead of baised and uninformed publications like Consumer Reports and this website in general which seems to love kick a dog while it's down, it is amazing it has been awhile since I saw one of their sarcastic HD DVD jabs, now you have a new door mat. To replace your HD DVD fixation.
mcrexx @ Mar 1st 2009 5:34AM
I have 65" and 42" Panasonic Plasmas and I am the happiest person in the world with these televisions. I did a side-by-side comparison of a 40" Sony XBR and 42" Panasonic Plasma 800 models, was allowed to calibrate them myself and I have to admit they looked very similar but I had to give the edge to the Panasonic. The PQ just felt much more natural to my eyes than the Sony LCD did. I've watched plenty of programming with permanent TV logos and news tickers but have never had a burn in issue, EVER. Heck I'm even planning to buy another 42" Panasonic plasma for my bedroom. So long as Panasonic keeps making these amazing panels, I don't care if everyone else dumps plasma, more for Panasonic and me :D.
Rob @ Mar 1st 2009 9:20AM
I have absolutely no problem with my Panny Plasma. I game several hours and week and watch ESPN (static bar) all the time and have never seen a sign of burn in.
Rob Dib
http://www.hdtv-steals.com
Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Mar 1st 2009 1:02PM
Right, the rule of thumb is that if you didn't have to worry about burn in on a CRT, you won't on a plasma. I got a an *85u 42" in January and can't say enough about it.
Cap BD @ Mar 1st 2009 11:30AM
How about an option for "Was planning to buy one; now accelerating purchase plans". I Want to make sure I get one before Panasonic drops the tech and Plasma implodes altogether. The 42" G10 series would do nicely.
I definitely don't want to be stuck with LCD as my only choice for my next display.
lferguson @ Mar 1st 2009 1:06PM
Add another one to the already own column.
Picked up a 50A450 for $698 during President's Day weekend this year. The picture is phenomenal and I'm willing to bet that most people won't "need" a 1080p HDTV for a few years since Blu-ray isn't the defacto standard and most TV stations don't use a 1080p signal.
Too bad no one is making 120Hz 720p HDTVs....now those would sell a ton.
Chance Stevens
Editor, http://www.tvlampsnbulbs.com
Chad @ Mar 1st 2009 4:30PM
120hz?!?! im running 480hz on my panny!
Gallo @ Mar 1st 2009 2:44PM
As I said before, I was never, ever planning to buy a plasma !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ahow628 @ Mar 1st 2009 4:20PM
I am ordering a 50" Kuro from Costco in the next couple of weeks here. Keep
'em in stock!
Bootleg Zani @ Mar 1st 2009 11:09PM
I will be picking up a Pioneer 5020 soon.
Duncan @ Mar 1st 2009 11:16PM
I do not plan on buying an LCD on any point in the future! I LOVE my Kuro and in the future will only look at plasma, projector or OLED. LCD's simply do not compare with detail reproduction, motion, let alone contrast.
glenn s @ Mar 2nd 2009 12:05AM
Duh, anyone who changes their mind and decides NOT to buy a plasma because the technology might not survive is a complete idiot. Buy the TV that is right for you today, regardless of the technology behind it. As long as it has the right inputs and outputs, the potential obsolescence of the display technology is irrelevant. If someone has decided that plasma looks better to them, then the prospect of not being able to get one in the future can only increase the desire to buy one now. It is not as if plasma TVs will stop working when the manufacturers stop making them. What a stupid question.